RU2479243C2 - Capsule for preparation of beverage or liquid food product and beverage preparation system using centrifugal force - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: food industry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a capsule and system for preparation of a beverage or a liquid food product in a centrifugal device for preparation of beverages of a food material contained in the capsule by way of water passing through the material due to centrifugal forces. The capsule is characterised by the presence of a shell with a preset dose of the material; the system has an unlocking device that is opened under the centrifugal force effect to ensure the possibility of the prepared liquid leaving the capsule. Additionally, the system may contain devices for the capsule connection to an external rotation means of the centrifugal device drive for beverage preparation; the connection devices are intended for the capsule retention in the initial angle position by way of resistance to rotating torque during the capsule rotation.

EFFECT: invention ensures more uniform distribution of water flow in the food material volume.

5 cl, 25 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to a capsule for the preparation of a beverage or liquid food product prepared or extracted from food material by means of centrifuge forces acting on the container in which the material is contained. The invention also relates to a system for implementing this method.

A known method of preparing drinks in which a mixture consisting of prepared coffee and coffee powder is separated by centrifugal forces. Such a mixture is obtained by bringing into contact for a limited time hot water and coffee powder. Water is then forced through a strainer on which powder material is present.

Existing systems include the placement of coffee powder in a receiving container, which is usually a non-removable part of the machine, as, for example, in EP 0367600 B1. Such devices have many disadvantages. First, coffee powder must be correctly manually dispensed into a receiving container. Secondly, the coffee waste after centrifugation becomes dry and must be scraped off to remove it from the surface of the receiving container. As a result, the preparation of coffee requires considerable manual effort and is very lengthy. In addition, the freshness of coffee can usually vary significantly, and this can affect the quality of the finished drink in a cup, since coffee usually comes from bulk packaging or coffee is ground from beans in the receiving container itself.

In addition, the quality of the cup of the finished beverage can vary greatly depending on the manual dosage of coffee and the conditions for its preparation (for example, centrifugation speed, size of the receiving container).

Therefore, these systems have never achieved great commercial success.

In DE 102005007852, the machine comprises a removable holder into which an open cup-shaped part of the container is inserted, while another part or lid is attached to the drive shaft of the machine. However, there is a disadvantage in the need for intensive manual actions. Another disadvantage is the difficulty in managing the quality of the coffee due to insufficient capacity to control the dosage of the powder and the lack of control of the freshness of the coffee powder.

Other devices for making coffee using centrifugal forces are described in WO 2006/112691, FR 2624364, EP 0367600, GB 2253336, FR 2686007, EP 0749713, DE 4240429, EP 0651963, FR 2726988, DE 4439252, EP 0367600, FR 2132310 , FR 2513106, FR 2487661, DE 3529053.

At the same time, the effect of using centrifugal forces in the preparation of coffee or other food products provides many advantages compared to conventional espresso-brewing methods using high-pressure pumps. With the methods of preparation of the type "espresso" it is very difficult to control all the parameters that affect the quality of extraction of coffee. These parameters are usually represented by pressure, a flow rate that drops with pressure, compaction of coffee powder, which also affects the rheological properties and which depends on the size of the particles of ground coffee, temperature, distribution of water flow and so on.

Therefore, there is a need to propose a new extraction method and a capsule adapted for use with it, a method in which the extraction parameters can be more efficiently and more independently controlled and, therefore, more convenient to master from the point of view of quality management.

At the same time, there is a need for a method that would be more convenient compared to centrifugal devices using the existing methods of the prior art, which would provide better quality of the finished beverage with more efficient control of such important quality parameters as freshness and dosage in a receiving container .

In this regard, the capsule of the invention is intended for the preparation of a drink or a liquid food product from the food material contained in the capsule by passing through the material using centrifugal forces of water, while the capsule contains:

a shell containing a given dose of material,

devices for attaching the capsule to an external rotational drive means, wherein said devices are designed to resist torque during rotation of the capsule so as to keep the capsule in its original angular position.

In one embodiment, the capsule attachment device preferably comprises a tubular portion extending beyond the capsule.

In another embodiment, the attachment device comprises at least one region in the form of a recess.

In another preferred embodiment, the surface of the capsule comprises a roughened portion.

By roughening this area, sufficient opposition is created to the leading surface of the device, which makes it possible to bring the capsule into rotation.

The surface of the capsule preferably contains a toothed structure.

In another embodiment of the invention, the capsule comprises a unlocking device designed to enable the prepared liquid to exit the capsule, wherein the unlocking device is opened by the action of the fluid moved by centrifugal forces when the capsule is rotated.

For example, the unlocking device forms at least one radially directed channel for discharging the prepared liquid.

Preferably, the capsule has an expandable structure, and at least one radially directed outlet channel is placed or formed on or near the larger side of the expandable structure. This design and the location of the outlet channel contribute to the flow of the centrifuged prepared liquid into the capsule, its accumulation and removal from the capsule.

In a preferred embodiment, the outlet can be obtained by centrifugal forces that exert a bending force on at least one deflected portion of the capsule.

The capsule may comprise a cup-shaped housing and a lid that closes the housing.

For example, the deflected area is a flexible sponge on the surface of the capsule, performing the function of clogging it. The deflectable sponge is integral with at least one wall of the capsule. It can be extruded from plastic together with a part of the capsule, i.e. a lid or capsule body. The sponge may, for example, be inserted into a cavity or groove located on the edge of the capsule. The groove may be made in the housing or cover. A sponge may be formed on the opposing groove of the part, i.e., on the lid or capsule body.

The invention also relates to a capsule for preparing a beverage or a liquid food product by passing through centrifugal forces through the material of water contained in the capsule, the capsule containing:

sealed enclosure containing a predetermined dose of material,

at least one outlet channel located at the edge of the shell and designed to discharge the prepared liquid when the forces developed in the centrifuge are acting on the capsule.

In this embodiment, preformed radially directed outlet channels for the prepared liquid are provided in the capsule. For example, a number of cuts are provided in the lid and / or housing. When the capsule is rotated, the prepared liquid can pass through the incisions, while solid particles are trapped in the capsule. Depending on the size of the outlet channels, an additional filter layer may be used to filter the liquid.

In addition, the capsule may contain a tubular injection section for moving water in the capsule. The tubular section has an inlet for water on the surface of the capsule and an opening for the release of water, communicating through the internal cavity of the capsule. Preferably, the capsule has expanding side walls. Preferably, the water outlet is located close to the bottom of the capsule so that water enters the cavity containing the material on its underside. By "lower part" is meant the narrower side of the capsule in relation to its expanding structural implementation.

The capsule may contain a dose of material for the preparation of one or at most two portions of the pour. The capsule contains ground coffee powder, instant coffee or tea.

The invention also relates to a system for preparing a beverage or liquid food product from food material contained in a permeable container by passing water through the material using centrifugal forces, the system comprising:

device containing

- a water supply device for introducing water into the container,

- drive means for bringing the container into rotation,

- devices for installing and positioning the container in the device in accordance with the required during operation operation relative to the water supply device and the drive means.

According to one aspect of the invention, the container is constituted by a capsule which comprises a device for attaching the capsule to the drive means.

The device also includes a complementary connecting device for providing adhesion to the connecting device of the capsule.

The term “clogged” capsule means that the capsule is made of materials having gas impermeability properties and is sealed in a sealed manner so as to prevent air from entering the capsule. In addition, the capsule preferably contains an inert gas, which helps to preserve the freshness of the material in the capsule. The capsule can also be wrapped with an external protective membrane.

Preferably, the capsule contains a dose of material for preparing one or two servings (e.g., cups) of the beverage. Typical cup sizes are between about 25 and 110 ml.

The dose of material for one cup of coffee can be, for example, between 4 and 8 grams of roasted ground coffee.

It should be noted that using this method unexpectedly successful results are achieved in preparing drinks that provide a higher content of dry extractives of coffee in a cup than methods using high pressure, such as "espresso". Without pretending to theoretical depth, it is assumed that the centrifugal flow of water is distributed more evenly, and this ensures the formation of a smaller number (or complete absence) of the preferred paths of water passage through the mass of coffee powder compared to conventional methods using high pressure.

The food material in the capsule may be ground coffee powder, instant coffee or tea.

The capsule is preferably rotated at a centrifuge speed of at least 5000 rpm, more preferably greater than 7000 rpm. The centrifuge speed for ground coffee powder is in the range of 1000 to 16000 rpm. It was unexpectedly found that at such high speeds of rotation, coffee cream of improved quality is obtained. Compared to the usual cream obtained using traditional methods, which is more watery, with larger bubbles, the cream has a creamier consistency similar to a real emulsion of oil and water.

Please note that the speed also depends on the nature of the food ingredient. In the case of tea leaves, the centrifuge speed is preferably low in order to insist, rather than extract under pressure. In particular, for tea leaf, the centrifuge speed is in the range from 10 to 1000 rpm, more preferably from 50 to 500 rpm.

The capsule may contain a clogging cap. The closure cap may comprise a flexible membrane. The membrane may contain a gas-tight layer and consist of layers made of polymers, aluminum and / or aluminum alloys. The capsule may also comprise a cup-shaped housing which is sealed with a closure lid. The bowl-shaped housing also contains gas-tight materials. It may be made of metal, such as aluminum foil, and / or of plastic.

In another embodiment, the capsule may be made of two hermetically connected pieces of flexible foil. The foil can be arranged in a symmetrical manner, forming two identical sides.

The method according to the invention comprises an operation in which hot water is introduced into the capsule substantially without any excess pressure. Water can be introduced using a hot water dispenser using the principle of suction or evaporation.

Alternatively, in the case of a stream with a higher density, hot water can be introduced using a low pressure pump such as a peristaltic pump or a diaphragm pump and the like.

The method also encompasses an operation during which at least one radially located outlet is made before or during the introduction of water into the sealed capsule.

Outlets may be punctured in the capsule lid. Also, the outlets may be punctured in the side walls of the capsule.

In one embodiment, a plurality of outlets are punctured in the peripheral region of the capsule. This method has the advantage of requiring a simple capsule. The number of outlets can be selected to control the intensity of the beverage. Since the outlet openings are represented by radially oriented rows, a layer or jets of high-pressure prepared liquid are formed, which is pushed out of the capsule.

Preferably, in the method according to the invention, the prepared liquid is also accumulated in order to then form a uniform flow of liquid food or drink, which can be sent to the cup.

In one embodiment regarding the capsules of the system, the capsule comprises side walls forming a truncated cone that facilitate the flow of the prepared liquid through the material to the capsule outlet (s).

In another possible embodiment, the capsule has a rigid lid resiliently attached to the body in the form of a bowl. The cover may be plastic. The lid and the housing can be connected through a radially foldable clogging device that opens by centrifugal force to allow food to pass through the lid. For example, a foldable clogging device may comprise at least one plastic lid sponge extending along the edge that engages with a seat on the bowl-shaped housing, or vice versa.

The present invention is illustrated by drawings, which represent the following:

figure 1 - system according to the invention, schematically;

figure 2 - module for the preparation of the beverage system according to the invention in the open position in which the capsule is inserted, schematically;

figure 3 - module preparation of the beverage system according to the invention, in the closed position, which contains a capsule;

4 is a sectional view of a system according to a first preferred embodiment;

5 is a three-dimensional image of another preferred embodiment of the device;

6 is a clogged capsule, which can be used in the device shown in figure 4 or 5;

Fig.7 - capsule after its use in the system;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a system according to a second embodiment;

Fig.9 is a part of Fig.8, in detail;

figure 10 - section of the capsule body in the form of a bowl in the system shown in Fig.7 and 8;

11 is a compression of the edges of the bowl-shaped body;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a part of the engagement of the bowl-shaped body shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the detail of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of a capsule lid in the system of Figs. 8 and 9;

Fig. 15 is a bendable closure device of the lid of Fig. 14;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a bowl-shaped capsule body according to another embodiment; FIG.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a detail of the housing shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a capsule lid that connects to the capsule body shown in FIGS. 16 and 17;

Fig. 19 is a part of the cover shown in Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 shows a clogged capsule and actions to remove a capsule plugging jumper;

FIG. 21 is a schematic view of a system according to another embodiment of the invention; FIG.

FIG. 22 is a schematic view of a system according to another embodiment of the invention; FIG.

23 is a schematic view of a system according to another embodiment of the invention;

24 is a capsule according to another embodiment of the invention;

Fig - module preparation of the beverage system according to the invention, in the closed position.

The system 1 according to the invention is presented in general in FIG. The system comprises a device 2 and a capsule 3. The device has a beverage preparation module 4 into which a capsule can be inserted in order to be used in preparing the beverage and then removed after use in order to be disposed of (for example, waste or recycling) . The module communicates in liquid with a capacity of 5 for water containing fresh or, as an option, heated water. In the water circulation system for moving water from the tank to the module, a device for transporting liquid, such as a low-pressure pump 6, can be provided. In addition, a water heater 7 is provided for heating the water to a desired temperature. You may notice that water could be heated in the tank itself, as well as that water could be transported from the tank by evaporation. Water can be supplied to module 4 at low or substantially absent overpressure. For example, at the inlet 8 of the module, a pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure of 0 to 2 bar may be provided.

The beverage preparation module 4 may include initializing devices 40, 41 designed to hold the capsule in the module at a predetermined position. The capsule may be supported in a slightly inclined position to facilitate the flow of prepared liquid toward the outlet channel 9 for the prepared liquid. The angle of inclination relative to the vertical may be, for example, from 2 to 65 degrees. The initial positioning device may include a capsule holder 410 and an injection cap 400. Both the holder 410 and the cap 400 are mounted so as to rotate about the axis of rotation I. The capsule holder contains a cavity having the shape of a capsule, which is placed therein. The cap is designed to be removably mounted flush with the holder. A passageway 42 for liquid can be created in the module in order to allow the outflow of liquid from the capsule and its accumulation for delivery through the stationary outlet channel 9.

A drive means 10 is provided for rotating together the cap 400 and the capsule holder 410 and, as a consequence, the capsule as well. For these purposes, the drive means includes an electric motor 11 with a shaft attached to the capsule holder, which rotates the capsule holder 41. Since the cap 40 is attached to the capsule holder 41, the cap is also rotated at the same speed as the capsule holder.

The temperature of the surfaces of the collecting device can be controlled so that the prepared liquid exiting the capsule is maintained at the proper temperature and does not cool before it enters the cup. To this end, in order to maintain the capsule holder at a controlled elevated temperature, the cap assembly 40 and / or the capsule holder assembly 41 can be connected to heating elements 46, such as a wire or thick film heater, and the like.

Figures 2 and 3 detail the principle of centrifugation of the capsule. The device comprises a capsule holder assembly 41 with a holder 410 having a truncated cone-shaped cavity 44 into which the capsule 3 is inserted. The holder is mounted along the axis of rotation I using the support 43. The injection cap assembly 40 is provided with an inner cover 400 that can be rotated about an axis I mounted on the fixed support part 401 of the injection cap assembly 40 when the device closes (FIG. 3).

The cap assembly and the capsule holder assembly are connected along the transverse axis A relative to which there are movements between the open position shown in FIG. 2 and the closed position shown in FIG. 3.

On the inner surface of the cap 40 for injection is a device 450 for piercing, bearing the function of piercing the side 30 of the capsule through which the injection is made. A water injector or piercing tube 50 is installed that crosses the side 30 through which the injection is made and which contains an injection channel for transferring water from the water circulation system to the capsule. The water injector 50 is preferably located in the center of the capsule. Thus, water can be injected into the capsule at a location located between the capsule cover 30 and the bottom 31 of the capsule. The outlet of the water injector is closer to the bottom 31 than to the lid, so that the water can first wet the material in the region of the bottom of the capsule. The lid also contains elements 51 for piercing the outlet openings, which are placed on the inside of the lid in a radial position. Preferably, the rows of piercing elements 51 are evenly spaced around the periphery of the lid. In addition, the capsule contains an inclined side wall 32, which expands from the lower part 31 to the upper part 30 in the direction of the radial holes or exhaust channels pierced by the piercing elements 51. The lid is also provided with a storage unit 52 containing an inner chamber 53 surrounding the radial openings of the capsule and a nozzle 530 forming a tube guiding the beverage or liquid food product to the recipient or to the cup. You may notice that there is no need for a tight connection of the upper and lower parts 40, 41 of the device. Since water is pushed by gravity, water flows radially and evenly to the side wall 32 of the capsule, crossing the material towards the periphery of the capsule and rising up to the radial hole in the side wall 32. The prepared liquid thus acts on the outer surface of the storage unit 52 and it accumulates and is pushed out under the action of gravity into the accumulator pipe 530. The advantage of the system is the presence of a small excess axial pressure and, as a result, to reduce the demand Significant mechanical forces for clogging. The technology is relatively simple, because a low-current motor is sufficient to provide the mechanical moment necessary for the preparation of the beverage. In addition, several types of heating devices can be used, such as a thermos or gas heater.

Figure 4 shows a more complex system of the invention. The system comprises a capsule holder 41, which is connected to a central rotating rod 45 mounted on a lower bearing 43, which is mounted on a support 46. At its lower end, the rod 45 is connected to a rotary electric motor 11. On the opposite side, the cover 40 is connected to the upper bearing 47 by a hollow rotating a rod 48 for inlet of water into the capsule through a channel 49 passing through the rotating rod 48. The rotating rod 45 is mounted on the upper frame 60 of the system. A row of needles 51 is also mounted on the side of the lid 40 to provide small holes in the periphery of the upper side of the capsule. The number of needles can be set between 5 and 50, preferably between 10 and 30. The larger the number of needles, the more uniform the liquid distribution can be. When the needles 51 come into contact with the capsule, the lid is rotated by the capsule itself, which is guided by the rotor 45.

The rotation speed can be set in the range from 1000 to 20,000 rpm. For this purpose, a control unit C is provided in the device (FIG. 1) in order to adjust the rotation speed depending on the beverage that is being prepared. The higher the rotational speed, the greater the radial pressure exerted on the capsule by the liquid and the more the material on the side wall of the capsule is compacted. In addition, the higher the speed, the shorter the residence time of the liquid in the capsule.

For example, for tea, the rotational speed may be minimal in order to make it possible for the water to pass slowly through the mass of tea leaves and to insist the tea.

For ground coffee, the speed should be high, that is, above 5000 rpm, preferably in the range of 8000 to 16000 rpm, in order to present optimal extraction conditions with respect to the coffee solids content in the cup and the quality of the creams. It was unexpectedly found that the resulting cream turned out to be much more creamy than that provided using standard espresso methods of making coffee.

Therefore, depending on the type of drink that is planned to be prepared, the control unit can be programmed to set optimal centrifugation conditions. For example, the control unit can be connected to a capsule recognition system, which makes it possible to determine the type of capsule, i.e. espresso, lungo, cappuccino, latte, tea, etc., and adjust the speed and / or other parameters of the preparation of the drink (for example, water temperature ) in accordance with the capsule that is inserted into the device.

The prepared liquid is collected in the storage chamber 52 of the support 46 and flows through the storage tube 9.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment in which the injection cap 40 is connected to the capsule holder 41 by a bayonet coupling 55 or by any other equivalent coupling method. In this embodiment, only one, lower bearing (not shown) is necessary. The capsule holder 41 and the cap 40 are thus connected to each other and both rotate around the lower axis of rotation 45. The capsule holder contains a cavity 550 designed to accommodate the capsule. The injection cap is then connected to the capsule holder by a screw tightening impulse of the bayonet device 55. For example, the bayonet device may comprise a series of radially spaced protrusions on the lid that are inserted into a series of grips located on the edge of the capsule holder. The tightening may be performed by a clamping portion 61 located on the upper side of the lid. However, the assembly should allow fluid to pass between the cap and holder. Therefore, the sealing connection between the cover and the holder is not desirable. Also, to control the outgoing flow of the prepared liquid, a predetermined gap can be provided by making slots or grooves of predetermined dimensions on the contact surface between the cover and the holder.

Also around the chamber 40, 41 for the preparation of the drink is a storage unit 46, which has the shape of a bowl larger than the capsule holder, of a size and designed to collect the prepared liquid. The storage unit rests on the base 62 of the device, to which the motor 11 is connected. On the side of the bowl, which is slightly inclined downward, a passage for liquid 9 is provided for directing the flow of liquid to the receiving container (for example, a cup for a drink).

Figures 6 and 7 show a capsule that may be suitable for the device according to various embodiments shown in figures 2-5. 6, the capsule 7 comprises a bowl-shaped body 70 with an upwardly directed side wall 76 and a lower wall 77. The side wall forms a conical section that facilitates the accumulation of the prepared liquid inside. The housing ends with an upper edge 72 extending beyond the limits of the closure lid 71. The lid may be a flexible punctured membrane of aluminum and / or plastic several microns thick. The cover may be welded to the upper edges 72 of the housing. It can be noted that the membrane and the housing preferably contain gas impermeable layers, for example, of aluminum and / or EVOH (a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol).

The capsule contains a material selected from the list consisting of ground coffee, instant coffee, tea, whitener, which is a milk or non-milk ingredient (s), herbal tea, nutritional material, culinary ingredients, and mixtures thereof.

Figure 7 presents the capsule after completion of the preparation of the beverage from the material in the device. A central water inlet 73 is pierced in the lid to allow water injector 50 to pass through. On the side of the lid, outlet openings 74 are punctured in communication with the internal cavity and are intended to allow the prepared liquid to exit the capsule.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, another embodiment of the present invention is presented. In this embodiment, the capsule 8 contains its own devices for the inflow and outflow of water. More specifically, the capsule comprises a bowl-shaped body 80 made of plastic, on which a plastic cover 81 is fixed. The cover can be tightly fixed to the body along its edge with a closure device 82, shown in more detail in FIGS. 9, 14 and 15. The closure acts as valve. More specifically, the edge of the housing comprises a peripheral groove 83 formed of two small, circumferentially extending, parallel to each other sections of the wall rising upward. For this, the lid has a peripheral portion of the wall forming the sponge 84, which is inserted into the groove 83. The sponge 84 can end with a thicker rounded shape 85, which is designed to create a locking pressure in the housing on the surface of the groove 83, so that the liquid can pass through a recess or annular groove 83, this pressure must be overcome. The sealing lip 84 is designed so that it can open a radial passage in the groove for the prepared liquid when the liquid is centrifuged.

A secondary plugging jaw 86 is provided along the edge of the lid, which corresponds to the outer edge 87 of the housing. This second jaw 86 is designed to lock the lid on the capsule body. To this end, the sponge 86 comprises an enlarged portion 860, which is mounted on the outer surface 87 of the edge of the housing.

Secondary sponge 86 has a clamping function when attaching the lid to the housing, and ultimately it also forms a second barrier that must be overcome by the prepared liquid in order to pass. This winding path, formed by a series of jaws 84, 86 and a groove 83, causes the generation of high shear forces in the prepared liquid. The secondary sponge may also intersect with radial cuts that facilitate the flow of the prepared fluid (not shown). In the case of coffee, this can lead to the formation of denser and more stable creams. It can be noted that with a capsule of a simpler design, this sponge can be excluded.

In the center of the capsule lid, an element is provided for distributing the water flow, which is formed by a tubular portion 88 extending from the lid. This tubular portion 88 has a water inlet 89, which may correspond to the water injection channel 49 of the injection cap 40 in the system. The tubular portion 88 terminates in a flow distribution device 880 formed by several slots directed outward from the capsule cavity. Several slots are placed at the free end of the tubular section 88. The support of the tubular section can abut against the bottom surface of the housing to delimit the slots and in order to direct water in many radial directions. For example, the number of slots can be between 2 and 10. Therefore, the water coming from above will pass through the pipe 88 and exit the pipe along the slot in the radial direction indicated by arrow B in Fig. 9. It can be noted that in this way, water is preferably introduced close to the bottom capsules, thereby ensuring proper wetting of the material, such as coffee powder, in the direction from the bottom to the top (that is, between the lid and the housing), from where the prepared liquid leaves the capsule.

According to this embodiment, the capsule 8 in FIGS. 8-15 may further include a device 840 for clamping the bottom of the capsule, thereby making it possible to properly rotate the capsule with this device. For these purposes, the device 840 comprises a small tubular portion protruding at the bottom of the capsule into which a complementary tubular portion 450 of the rotational means of the device drive can be inserted.

The device drive means furthermore comprises a drive shaft 45 connected to a support 451 intended to hold the bottom of the capsule. The shape of the clamping device may take many other variations without departing from the scope of the present invention. 12 and 13 show the construction of a clamping device 840 having a central recess 841 and four arcuate recesses 842, 843, 844, 845 extending from the central recess 841. This clamping device forms a lock to which the complementary meshing device 450 fits, i.e. key holder 451 capsules. The complementary forms of the capsule and the capsule holder make it possible to perform both the transfer function for bringing the capsule into rotation at high speed and the safety function, which ensures that only capsules suitable for this device can be used and successfully used in the preparation of beverages.

In this embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the device comprises, as in the previous embodiments, upper and lower bearings 43, 47 to enable joint rotation with the capsule 3 of the injection cap and capsule support 451. Around the capsule is a collecting unit 52 with a bowl 520 formed by the side and lower walls 521 and the upper closure cover 522. The cover also serves to accommodate the upper bearing 43, while the lower bowl 520 has a central recess for accommodating the lower bearing 47. The bowl 520 and lid 522 may be assembled in a liquid tight manner so as to avoid uncontrolled releases of the prepared liquid. In this regard, a connecting device 523 may be provided with a liquid tight seal, such as an o-ring 524, which may also serve to ensure a tight fit between the two parts. A beverage outlet pipe (not shown) for discharging the beverage from the collection unit may also be provided.

As can be seen from Fig. 8, the device drive means comprises a bottom-mounted electric motor 11, which is connected to the drive shaft or the drive coupling 45, which, in turn, is attached to the capsule holder 451. It should be noted that the capsule holder may be a simple plate a support or a disk 451, or a support made in the form of a bowl.

The action during the preparation of the beverage of FIGS. 8 and 9 can be briefly explained as follows.

A capsule 3 described above containing a dose of material is contemplated. The capsule may be filled with roasted and ground coffee. After removing the lid, the capsule is inserted into the bowl 520 and placed on the capsule holder 451 with an engagement device 450 suitable for the recess 840 in the form of a recess on the bottom of the capsule. When connecting and attaching the lid 522 to the bowl 520 to the lid 81 of the capsule, the injection cap 40 is then attached or attached with the water supply device 89 coming into connection with the capsule tube 88 for water injection. When the device is in the closed position of FIG. 8, water can be injected under slight pressure or simply poured into the channel through the tubular portion 88. Preferably, some water is poured to begin wetting the material in the capsule before the capsule is rotated by rotational means drive device. Then, the control unit starts the engine and the capsule is thus rotated at high speed to carry out a beverage preparation operation using centrifugal force. Under the action of centrifugal forces, the powder material tends to compact in the radial direction, while water is forced to pass through the material. This leads to the fact that the material is both compacted and well moistened with water. Due to the high speed of rotational motion, centrifugal forces evenly affect the mass of material. Consequently, the distribution of water also turns out to be more uniform compared to conventional methods using pressure pumps to apply pressure to the layer of material. As a result, the risk of preferential flow paths through the material, which can lead to the formation of areas that are not wetted properly and, as a result, are not subjected to proper extraction processing, is reduced. In the case of ground coffee powder, the liquid that reaches the inner side wall of the capsule is thereby a liquid coffee extract. This liquid extract is then forced to flow upward on the side of the capsule to the plugging device 82. Thus, the plugging device 82 is exposed to the force exerted by the centrifuge to expose it. This leads to the fact that the sponge tends to bend outward, creating a passage between the surface 85 and the inner surface of the groove. Likewise, the second sponge is also forced to bend, or, as an option, may allow some leakage through, for example, pre-made slots in order to allow fluid to flow out of the capsule. The fluid will thus be able to flow along the small peripheral groove 83 and exit the capsule. The prepared liquid can be collected by the collector 52 and removed from the device to the recipient.

On Fig-19 presents another embodiment of the capsule according to the invention. This capsule has a bowl-shaped body 80 containing the same clamping device 840 on its outer surface, designed to enable rotation of the capsule in the device. The capsule also contains a lid 81 shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. In contrast to the capsule of the previous embodiment, the lid 80 and the housing 81 are permanently connected, for example by ultrasonic welding. The prepared fluid, which is under the action of centrifugal forces, is given the opportunity to go through a series of cuts 810, presented on the protruding upward edge 880 of the housing. The dimensions of the cuts were made to work as a filter to hold solid particles, such as ground coffee particles, but allow fluid to flow out of the capsule. The lid is connected to the edge 880 included in the radial groove 840 of the lid 81 (Fig. 19). 17 also shows small teeth 830 that perform the function of energy-guiding elements that can melt during ultrasonic welding. In this embodiment, the capsule does not contain a folding lip of the seal, but simply has slots 810 to allow the prepared liquid to pass through the capsule. The capsule in accordance with this embodiment can be used in the device shown in Fig.8 and 9.

20 shows a clogged capsule. The capsule is formed, as described in previous embodiments, by a bowl-shaped body 80 on which the lid 81 is mounted. The water inlet 89 is closed in the lid by a septum membrane 890. The radial outlet region located between the lid and the body is also covered by a septum membrane 891. Follow note that the same clogging membrane can close both the inlet 89 for water and the outlet region for the prepared liquid. The capping membrane 891 may be a tamper evident element, such as an adhesive membrane in the form of a tape sealing the line between the lid and the housing. The tape may be dissected in the machine by a cutting tool 910, such as a blade or equivalent device. When the capsule is rotated (as shown by arrow C), the cutting tool comes into contact with the tape, which thus automatically dissects. The capsule no longer remains impermeable and liquid may escape through the radial edge of the capsule, as previously explained. It can be noted that the clogging membrane (s) can also be made of peeling sticky material so that the user can remove it (them).

According to Fig.21, the system may also provide for the injection of water due to suction under the action of a rotational impulse. For this, the capsule is placed in the devices for installation in the initial position 40, 41. The discharge pipe 8 connects the water tank to the inside of the capsule. The device is oriented in such a way that the reservoir is below the capsule and the water moves under the action of a vacuum, which develops in the center of the capsule. The discharge tube is also inserted into the capsule, preferably up to the region closest to the narrower side or the lower part so that water can wet the entire mass of material, for example, ground coffee powder.

It can be noted that the capsule can be installed so that its side wall expands downward. The system of FIG. 22 is similar, but the capsule orientation is upside down and it expands upward.

In the two embodiments of FIGS. 21 and 22, water is preferably introduced near the narrower side of the capsule, i.e. opposite the expanding side, so that liquid flows through the material toward the wider side of the capsule and then exits the capsule.

On Fig presents another capsule according to the invention. The capsule contains a device in order to attach to an external rotational drive means of the device. For this purpose, the capsule has a toothed structure 75 on at least one of its outer surfaces. The capsule has a housing 70 containing an upper edge 72, which can be closed by the upper membrane 71. The tooth structure contains a series of teeth that are located below the edge or rim 72 of the capsule body. The teeth are located around the circumference of the capsule body. The capsule body may be made of plastic and / or aluminum, or an aluminum alloy. For example, it can be obtained by injection molding of plastic or by deep drawing of aluminum. The shape of the teeth may be, for example, close to triangular, oval, rectangular or pyramidal. It should be noted that the teeth can be replaced by other equivalent structures, such as rows of elements with bulges and / or recesses. For example, slots, studs or small needles may be provided.

The device itself, which accommodates the capsule shown in FIG. 23, comprises a toothed surface of a supplementable shape. Fig. 24 shows a capsule holder 44 adapted to accommodate the capsule of Fig. 23. The capsule holder has a cavity in which dents 440 are provided. The dent-shaped depressions are arranged to coincide with the denticles 750 on the outer surface of the capsule.

It should be noted that the design of the attachment or engagement device shown in FIG. 23 can replace the capsule design of FIGS. 8 and 9, and vice versa.

25 shows another embodiment of a beverage preparation system. The difference is that in addition to the main water supply channel 50, a side water supply channel 500 is provided for increasing the volume of water in the collecting unit 52. A certain amount of water may be added before, during or after the completion of the beverage preparation operation in the capsule. The side channel ends on the upper surface of the rotating cover 400. The upper surface of the cover 400 may include a device for distributing water, such as consisting of radial grooves or recesses, and designed to facilitate the flow of water to the surface of the storage unit. The control unit can control the supply of the added volume of water so that this volume is added at the same time as the coffee extract is supplied by centrifugation so that the foam that forms on the surface of the drink does not break.

The system and method according to the invention provide improved results for the preparation of beverages with dry matter values exceeding those obtained using conventional methods and devices. The results show very high reproducibility from capsule to capsule. The cream also turned out to be noticeably improved, having a creamier, more stable and denser texture.

The invention may encompass many options that are included within the scope of the claims that follows.

Claims (5)

1. A capsule (3) for preparing a beverage or a liquid food product in a centrifugal device for preparing drinks from the food material contained in the capsule by passing water through the material using centrifugal forces, comprising: a housing (70) and a shell; a device for introducing the capsule into engagement with the external rotational drive means of the centrifugal device for making beverages, wherein said devices resist the torque during rotation of the capsule to hold the capsule in its initial angular position; characterized in that the shell contains a predetermined dose of material, and the housing is closed at its upper edge (72) by an upper membrane (71), the gearing devices include a gear structure (750) or rows of elements with bulges and / or recesses on the outer surface . 2. The capsule according to claim 1, in which the gear structure contains a series of teeth that are located under the edge (72) of the capsule. 3. The capsule according to claim 1 or 2, which contains a dose of material for the preparation of one or two servings of the drink. 4. The capsule according to claim 1 or 2, which contains ground coffee powder, instant coffee or tea. 5. A system for preparing a beverage or liquid food product from food material contained in a permeable container by passing water through the material using centrifugal forces, containing a capsule (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and containing:
- a device (2) containing:
a water supply device (5, 6, 7) for introducing water into the capsule,
- drive means (10) for bringing the capsule into rotation,
- devices (40, 41) for installing and positioning the capsule in the device in accordance with the required during operation operation relative to the water supply device and the drive means,
- complementary connecting device (440) to ensure engagement with the connecting device (750) of the capsule,
wherein the capsule connecting device (750) is detachably connected to the connecting device (440), said devices being designed to hold the capsule in its initial angular position by means of resistance to torque during rotation of the capsule;
moreover, the complementary connecting device (440) contains a gear surface.

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